Roadside bombs kill five in tribal Pakistan: officials
PESHAWAR/MIRANSHAH: Separate roadside bombs killed a total of five people and wounded 10 on Sunday in two separate blasts in Pakistan’s lawless tribal zone near the Afghan border, officials said.
A bomb targeting a security forces’ convoy exploded in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan, killing two security personnel and injuring seven others, DawnNews reported.
A security forces’ convoy was on routine patrol when it came under the attack of a remotely-detonated improvised explosive device planted near the road in Mir Ali area, 35 kilometres east of North Waziristan’s main town of Miramshah.
“The explosion killed at least two soldiers and injured seven others,” a security official in Miranshah said on condition of anonymity.
The two security personnel died on the spot as a result of the intense blast.
Another local security official confirmed the attack and said two of some 10 to 15 vehicles in the convoy were severely damaged.
While talking to Dawn sources, the Tehrik-i-Taliban’s Jundullah group claimed responsibility for the blast and claimed that the attack was to avenge the death of their slain comrade Ahmed Bengali who was earlier killed in a drone strike in North Waziristan.
Meanwhile, at least three labourers were killed and three wounded Sunday in an explosion caused by a roadside bomb in the Shin Qamar area of Khyber tribal region, said senior local official Nasir Khan.
He said the bomb went off as the labourers, who were carrying construction materials on mules, passed by. Local intelligence officials also confirmed the incident.
Pakistan’s semi-autonomous tribal belt is made up of seven agencies. Taliban and al Qaeda-linked militants are said to have carved out strongholds in North Waziristan.